Four local communities in Greenock have put on display their six months’ worth of art work at an exhibition in Auchmountain Community Hall. Director of Cloch Housing Association, Paul McVey, and chief executive of Oak Tree Housing Association, Nick Jardine, opened the colourful display of zen colouring, print work and mosaics to all local people to view.
The ArtWorks project, funded by the European Social Fund’s Aspiring Communities Fund, engaged with local housing association tenants in Bowfarm, Maukinhill, Pennyfern and Strone areas of Greenock and used art to talk to tenants who might otherwise go under the radar of the housing associations.
The six months work included sessions for residents on mosaics, zen colouring, costume making, printing and window art. The outcome was that the project talked to 143 local people about what they like in their local community and what they would like to happen in the future.
“This work has helped us find out the opinions of local tenants who we might not otherwise have spoken to. We were delighted with the art work and will look at the surveys carried out, to hopefully keep the conversation going,” said Paul McVey, director of Cloch Housing Association.
“This has been a very positive project and it has brought our tenants together and allowed them to try new things, meet new people and tell us what is important to them in their community. The work they have produced looks fantastic,” said Nick Jardine, chief executive of Oaktree Housing Association.
The final part of the project will be the production of the Art Master Plans for all the areas, suggesting ways of building on the success of ArtWorks.
“Creativity enables people to express themselves in fun and informal ways, helping to break down barriers and to build community spirit. The community Artworks Project has shared skills and started an initial discussion with residents which has provided invaluable information on which to build,” explained Karen Orr, manager of Rig Arts, a local socially engaged art company.
